Skiing the Whiteface Slides

The Slides at Whiteface are some of the most exciting sidecountry in the northeast. The steep, ungroomed terrain, the all natural conditions and the fact they’re open only a few days a year, heighten the mystique and generate a lot of curiosity about what first time skiers can expect. We’re often asked for information by those who haven’t had the opportunity to ski the Slides.

The Slides before 2011 (photo by Mike White)

In August of 2010, Highpeaksdrifter penned our first guide to skiing the Whiteface Slides. It provided insight for the uninitiated and pure stoke for those who’ve been into the cirque and long to return.

The initial response to the Slide Guide was very positive. Over the last year, we’ve wanted to upgrade the guide to include larger photos and more information. In addition, since the original guide was written, the rains of 2011 have changed the terrain in the cirque, especially between Slides 2 and 3. We’ve upgraded the guide, creating an Slides Overview and giving each inbound slide it’s own page. This new guide is a cooperative effort between Highpeaksdrifter, Coach Z, ScottyJack and NYSkiBlog.

Our goal, as stated in the overview, is to prominently feature this terrain, and to give uninitiated, qualified expert skiers an idea of what to expect when skiing this exciting terrain. It is NOT our intention that this piece be taking as a recommendation that any skier attempt to ski the slides. Only the most qualified and confident skiers should attempt this terrain. Always respect the terrain, proceed with extreme caution and above all obey Patrol. Whiteface Patrol is the most qualified to determine when the Slides should be skied. We hope you enjoy…

Please note that this blog post includes all the comments that were posted under Highpeaksdrifter’s original post. The pages of the new guide do not have space for comments. We ask that any comments related to the guide be posted under this entry.

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18 comments on “Skiing the Whiteface Slides”

EDIT: This thread includes comments from both the first Slide Guide published in August of 2010, and this latest version.

Thanks for your work on this piece Highpeaksdrifter. It’s an real resource to have on the pages of NYSB — loaded with good information. A lack of luck/timing has kept me from skiing the slides. No question I’ll be reviewing the info on the summit chair before my next attempt. That is, if I’m not skiing with you.

Skied the slides for the first time last winter (thanks to PDQ for the heads up they were open!) and I had a blast! Just the kind of terrain I love. Lots of changes,steep in places, tight and nasty,what more could you ask for! Hopefully this winter I’ll get to ski 5 and 6.

Anytime I see pictures of the slides, I’m just dying to get in there for the trees and narrow runs, but I understand the magnitude of the steepness just can’t be quite conveyed in images. Just how bad is bad?–like in comparison to Whiteface’s other runs.

The top #1 and 2 are roughly comparable to Skyward at the top. They get steeper than anything at Whiteface when it gets down into the waterfall sections. Also much tighther in spots. The issue is that when conditions are excellent its not that much harder than the Summit trails but when its marginal it has a serious pucker factor in your rear end.

Great site and great pictures! I’ve skied Whiteface many many times decades ago, but never the slides.

I know I’m probably showing my age, but back in the day, NOBODY dared to ski The Slides. Cloudspin and Skyward were the only two legendary expert trails from the summit. They were used a lot for training to get ready for the 1980 Olympics.

Anyway, this site and the great photos of Whiteface bring back a lot of memories! I haven’t skied in years, and with today’s modern technology, if I tried to get back on skis, I’d probably bust my butt!!